HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 5654, 14 May 1879, Page 2

HUTT COUNTY COUNCIL.

- - The ordinary monthly meeting of the Hutt County Council was held at the temporary offices of the Council, Lower Hutt, yesterday. Present: The Chairman (Mr. Mason t, Councillors Taylor, Chew, Lancaster, Morgan, Speedy, Dick, Smith, and Monaghan. The clerk (Mr. William Jones) and the engineer (Mr. W. A. Filxberbert) were in attendance. MINBTES. The minutes of the previous ordinary and special meetings were read and confirmed. CHARITABLE AID QUESTION. Mr. Charles Austin wrote, bringing under the notice of the Council the case of a man named William Shearson, living in a whare about a mile from Johnsonville. He had been receiving 7s. fid. per week from the Government, but had received nothing since March fith. When the charitable aid was taken out of the hands of the police he lost five weeks pay, so that the old man was much involved. Councillor Taylor said he had some knowledge of the case. The man was nearly eighty years old, and although he had a garden he got nothing out of it except what he himself consumed. If he were allowed ss. per week in goods that would be sufficient. He bad been one of those hardworking, hearty men, who had drunk money as fast as he made it, and seemed none the worse so far ns health was concerned.

On the motion of Councillor Taylor it was resolved to give the man ss. per week in goods. Another case brought forward was that of a woman residing at Makara. She was reported to be a widow with five children, ranging in age from thirteen months to ten years, and her husband before his death had been laid up and unfit for work for two years. The place she lived upon was leasehold, and she owed two years' reut (£2O). She has a few cows, but they have all gone to the bush, there being no feed on the clearing for them. Her place is two miles from the road, and there is only a bush track to it. She has no means of maintaining her family, but would be able to work for them if she had the means of removing to some place where she could get employment at charing or washing. Councillor Lancaster said he knew the history of the case, and he thought if the Council allowed 10s. a week in food for a couple of mouths they would hear ho more of the matter. The woman would sell her cows and remove to some place where she could get work.

The Council adopted Mr. Lancaster’s suggestion. Councillor Smith brought under notice the case of a man named Baker, who bad been receiving 7s. fid. a week from the Government and 2s. fid. a week from the Benevolent Institution. He explained the circumstances of the case, and urged that the Council should give 6s. per week.—Agreed to. financial. The Public Works Department wrote,—in reply to an application that a sum of £ISOO might be placed to the credit of the Hutt County,—stating that the Government were having Mr. Beere’s road-line benched from Hayward's to connect with the district road from Porirua. After this is done, the Government will communicate with the County as to the expenditure of the vote. HOTT RIVER PROTECTIVE WORKS. Mr. William Douslia, of Blenheim, wrote, enclosing plans and specifications for groins and floating dams to be erected for protective purposes in the Hutt Hiver. OFFER TO PURCHASE. Sir William Fitzherbert wrote, offering to purchase a portion of the disused liue running through his land at Belmont, ns shown on accompanying plan. He offered £2 an acre. There are about five acres. It was resolved to inform Sir William that the Council at present had no power to sell the land. THE ntJOK CREEK BRIDGE. A tender was received for the erection of a bridge over Duck Creek, and for a deviation of the road in the locality. Councillor Taylor strongly urged the Council to take some definite action with regard to this matter at once. The tender for the bridge was very reasonable, and although that for the deviation was rather high still the work would be a great inconvenience to travellers all the way to Wanganui. He moved that the tender be accepted. Councillor Smith would have preferred to see the matter adjourned for a month, because by that time the settlers would be ready to make a strong representation in the matter to the Council. Two coaches and three expresses left Pahantanui every day, so that the bridge was well used. A great many travellers went along the road, and frequently got into trouble. Only a few nights ago the Messrs. Brady had to get out of bed and pull a traveller out of the creek ; and this was only one instance out of many that were constantly occurring. He strongly advocated the diversion of the road, and said the people would sooner see the present bridge swept away and left down rather than see it re-erected in the same place as that in which it now stood. Councillor Lancaster wanted to know where the money was to come from to do the work.

Councillor Monaghan thought the settlers should come forward and assist themselves if they wanted a diversion of the road. Let the county do the bridge, and let the people themselves see to the diversion of the road. Councillor Smith said the residents already pay £7O or £BO a year as tolls at Kaiwarra—they paid rates just as other people—and it was unfair they should be called upon to raise a special sum. It would be very harsh, and the proposal came with bad grace from Councillor Monaghan, whose constituents got so large a share of the revenue. Councillor Monaghan : We only get £2OO out of the £lojo due to us, and we can never get the services of the Engineer. Councillor Chew said contractors seemed to be unaware of the existence of plenty of stone in the locality. Were they so aware the tenders would probably have been lower. If fresh tenders were called for, probably lower tenders would be received.

In reply to Councillor Morgan, The Engineer said the tenders for the diversion greatly exceeded the estimate. Councillor Smith thought some good would result from the postponement. Perhaps the work could be done- cheaper. At any rate they did not want the bridge without the road diversion.

The Chairman : Would you not be glad to have the new bridge where the old one is ? Councillor Smith : No. The Chairman ; You have already had £3OO or £i oo beyond your share. After some further discussion, Councillor Lancaster moved as an amendment that fresh tenders be called for. If the tenders were not satisfactory, then the Engineer could do the work by day labor. Councillor Morgan seconded. Councillor Taylor still urged the importance of the work, and sail if something was not done there would be accidents and actions for damages against the Council. The matter had been before the Council three months, and it would be criminal to delay it longer. The amendment was carried. engineer’s report. The following was read and received «I have the honor to report upon the condition of the roads and bridges upon the two main roads of the above county. “ Great North-eastern Line of Road,—This road, between Wellington and Hutt bridges, is in very good repair as far as the drains, culverts and formation are concerned, a great number of the old wooden culverts having been replaced with glazed drain pipes, which are far more durable and much less costly than wood. As the greater part of this toad is in the shade, and the traffic being very great, it will be necessary to procure metal for doing the necessary repairs. As there is no good metal between Kaiwarra and Nghauranga, it will either have to be procured from the quarry at Kaiwarra or Ngahauranga. The Kaiwarra metal can be obtained from the quarry already broken, but the metal front Ngahanranga, although not broken, is of, a,far better quality. Between Ngahanranga and Petoni the road can be metalled with the stone from the hill side. Although of an inferior

quality it may do, as a greater quantity can bo put on at a cheap rate. Between Petoni and Hutt river, metal can be procured for any portion which may require metalling. The Korokoro bridge has been thoroughly repaired, the whole of the stringers having been renewed, new planks in floor, and hand-rail made good. The whole of the bridge has been covered with a good coat of tar. I have only had two men on the above section during the summer, but now that the wet weather has set in, it will bo necessary to put an extra man on for the winter months. The Hutt bridge is now in good repair, the whole having been thoroughly screwed up, and the piers, girders, floor joists, and under side of floor up to a level of kerb piece having had a thorough good coat of tar, a great many old planks have been taken out and replaced by new ones. The road from Hutt to Rimutaka is in thorough , good order, and as the traffic has decreased very considerably a very little metal will suffice to effect the necessary repairs; about 200yds. of metal, with what is already out, will be sufficient. All the bridges and culverts are in good order, a number of new culverts having been put in. “ Great North-western Line of Road. —From Ngahanranga to Johusonvilio the surface of the road is in good order. In many places a great part of the road is built out from the hill side upon timber work. A great deal,of this work is becoming rotten and unsafe, and will require repairing from time to time. It will be advisable to have the necessary timber for repairs upon the ground, in order that the traffic may not be stopped at any time. Two bridges are in a very bad state, very little (if any) of the timber in them being sound enough for repairs, except the piles. It will therefore be necessary to replace them by new stringers and floor, and should be attended to at once. I would advise the Council to rebuild all bridges upon the Ngahauranga line with stone piers. After carefully going into the matter I find the stone would not cost much more than wood, and would bo more durable. From Johnsonville to Pahautanui the road is in good repair; a number of new culverts have been put in and old ones repaired. There is also a good supply of metal out upon side of road ready to put on when required. From Pahautanui to Garments the road is good; a good supply of metal is out ready for putting on when required. From Carmonts through the Horokiwi Valley to Paikakariki a great deal of work has been done in repairing the damage caused by the flood in November last. All the large culverts which were carried away Jiave been replaced by substantial wooden ones, and the road widened in many places, and otherwise improved. There are a few places which would be better widened. This can be done at some future time, when the men can be spared from other parts of the work. On the 21st of last month about three chains of the Horokiwi road was carried away into the gully by the heavy fall of rain which took place on that day, which stopped the traffic for a few days only. The Porirua ferry bridge has been thoroughly repaired and strengthened; the Pahautanui bridge has also been thoroughly repaired; at Horokiwi a new bridge has been built. At Duck Creek a new bridge is urgently needed. An extra man will be required upon the Ngahauranga line during the winter months.” A conversation ensued about the respective merits of the Kaiwarra stone-breaking metal and Ngahauranga metal. The Engineer said the price of the former was 65., and the latter ss. 6d.; and he inclined to the opinion that the latter was the best. Most of the Councillors expressed the same opinion. THE PEACE OF MEETING. Tenders were opened from various persons in Wellington willing to let offices suitable for the accommodation of the County Council. The rent asked ranged from £6O a year for one room up to £IOO a year for two or more. It appeared that at the last meeting of the Council a committee had been appointed to receive tenders, inspect the offices offered, and report to the Council as to their eligibility. But the committee had never met, and no report was forthcoming. i After some desultory talk, ' Councillor Smith said the real question at I issue, and which ought first to be decided one i way or the other, was whether Wellington : or the Hutt was to be the place of 1 meeting. He ' altogether objected to f come to the Hutt to please the fancy i of those who thought because the County ! was called the Hutt County that therefore the ' Lower Hutt must be the county town. The ( Hutt people were no more entitled to that f distinction than the residents of Karori were ; f in fact, so far as numbers went Karori had the i advantage. But numbers was not the proper I element to be considered. The point was i which would be the moat central and convenient place of meeting, and he contended for the city of Wellington. Why should the Karori members and the Pahautanui members be dragged all the way to the Hutt ? and why should the Council be located in a place where it would be most difficult to get advice on legal or other matters, particularly when there was need for haste. Besides that there were a great many ratepayers who constantly had business at the county offices, and it would be a hardship to bring them all the way to the Hutt. It the offices were in Wellington people could suit their convenience, and take a trip to town and do a variety of business at one and the same time. He moved that the offices of the county be in Wellington. Councillor Monaghan seconded.

Councillor Moiioan said he could not support the motion, for the simple reason that he intended at once to giro notice of motion for building County Council offices at the Hutt. Councillor Taylor recognised the necessity of getting permanent offices as soon as possible, and with that view had endeavored to get a site either at the Hutt or in Wellington, but just now there were other considerations. He was quite willing to remain in Wellington so long as they were rent free, but he doubted whether it would be advisable to expend money in getting offices in the city, or at the Hutt for that matter, just now. There could bo no doubt at any rate many persons seemed to be of opinion that there would before long be a change in the present county system. Either the counties would be swept away in favor of road boards, or they would be enlarged. If the latter course were pursued probably neither Wellington nor the Hutt would be the centre of a county. If the road boards superseded the counties, probably if they were to erect buildings or lease offices now they would be useless. Therefore he opposed any expenditure, but should let the Council remain where it was in its own property for the present, till it was seen what course events would take. He spoke of the expressed willingness on the part of the Government to give a site for offices on the new reclamation at Pipitea, and said it would be very easy to build when opportunity offered. At present he opposed any expenditure whatever.

Councillor Chew said the cost of offices in W ellington would after all be very trifling, and would be more than compensated for by the superior convenience afforded by being located in town. He felt convinced it would be a very great mistake to have the offices at the Hutt, and prophesied if snch a course were adopted that the public would soon complaiu loudly of the great inconvenience occasioned thereby. Councillor Monaghan expressed surprise and regret that Councillor Taylor should have turned round upon his constituents in the manner in which he had ; and went on to state his opinion that the temporary removal of the offices had been quite illegal. The Chairman had acted in a thoroughly unjustifiable manner all through. From the commencement he had determined to have the offices at the Hutt, and ha might have said so at once. He had prevented the committee from meeting The Chairman : I did nothing of the sort. I went to Mr. Chew’s to endeavor to get a meeting up.

Councillor Monaghan ; There were no notices sent out for a meeting of tho committee, and if he did try once to get up a meeting his duty did not end there a

The Chairman : I could not be continually running after members.

Councillor Monaghan proceeded : The Chairman had not called the meeting together, and he was quite prepared now to burk tho question. The thing was all cut and dried before the meeting. Councillor Taylor had been coaxed over

Councillor Tailor : I rise to a point of order. Such statements are untrue.

Councillor Monaghan ; You may speak to your point of order.

The Chairman : Councillor Taylor has not been influenced by me. I have never spoken to him on the subject. Councillor Monaghan: I know all about it. Why, I represent more ratepayers than the two of you. I represent 500, ratepayers. Councillor Taylor says we may have a larger county. I hope we shall have a smaller county. I hope we shall have a county of our own in Karori ; or else that counties will ii d °. no away and the road boards given all the power. We are the largest district in the county, and yet we cannot get fair play. We cannot even get the services of the Engineer. though frequently applied for, they never have been obtained. I hope the Council

will really consider what it is about. This is a most unreasonable distance for us to come. And besides, it is very inconvenient. Book at the last election. You were continually running to the lawyer to get set right, and you went wrong after all. How unfair it is to drag people who want licenses all the way here. The public never will put up with the inconvenience. Besides, you won't get the reporters out here. Not likely. The Chairman : Well, there is one behind you now, taking all you say, at any rate. (A laugh.) Councillor Monaghan : I didn't know. (A laugh.) Well, I don’t care. I have said nothing to be ashamed of. It is all the truth. We have to thank the chairman for bringing us here, and I suppose he will keep us here now.

Councillor Lancaster was perfectly well aware nothing he could say would alter the voting ; but he would like to add to what had beeu said before that the cost to the county of keeping the offices at the Hutt would he for greater than the rent they had beeu asked to pay. It was absurd to have asked for tenders fur offices, when the Chairman knew well he had everything cut and dried, and had his votes all safe. The removal of the offices to the Hutt would he productive of great inconvenience to residents at Karori, but still morn so to those at Pahautanui and Horokiwi. He blamed the Chairman for not having called a meeting of the committee appointed to report upon this matter, and suggested that the omission was duo to ulterior designs in the mind of the Chairman.

The Chairman pointed out that at last meeting, when Councillor Taylor was away, he had voted so as to keep the question open for a full meeting to decide upon. That did not look like unfairness.

Councillor Lancaster : You did your duty then ; no more. Councillor Smith, in reply, said one man’s vote turned the scale. That vote was Councillor Taylor’s, aud he hoped that when that gentleman constituents were complaining of the inconvenience of going to the Hutt, they would thank their member for the trouble they had to put up with. The motion was then put and negatived, and a motion in favor of the Hutt carried. The voting was as follows :—l’or Wellington— Councillors Chew, Smith, Lancaster, and Monaghan. For the Hutt—The Chairman, Councillors Morgan, Speedy, Taylor, and Dick.

Councillor Morgan then gave notice to move at next meeting that suitable buildings for county offices be erected at the Hutt. A number of accounts were passed for payment, and after the transaction of some further routine business, the Council adjourned.